Senior Audience

It was at First Baptist Church of Sandy Springs that I learned to drive a bus from Val Porter. Val took me through a rigorous training of small roads, downtown, country lanes and freeways until I was fully confident in driving (and until he was fully confident as well).  The final test was to take the Seniors Group somewhere.  Val's theory was simple, "There is no pickier group, no group that wants a smoother ride, no group that will speak their mind more, no group that needs more attention than the Senior Group.  If they think it is a great ride, then it is a great ride." 

I had the opportunity on several occassions to drive the Seniors while at Sandy Springs - and I loved every opportunity.  It was my goal to make sure there was never a jolt, a coffee spill, a step that wasn't assisted or a bag not carried.  It was the greatest blessing to give back to these people who had given much to their families, friends, our economy and society over the years.   I noticed that some were meek and would let you talk over them or just go right by them or interrupt them.  I noticed that some of the seniors would just keep talking and talking even if the bus were on fire.  I noticed that most people didn't listen to their great stories but were simply moving too fast to "sit for a spell."

 I have been blessed time after time by following the lessons that I learned on those relatively few outings.  I learned to stop, listen, laugh and appreciate.  The wisdom and history of the past is being lost because people assume that the old are all grouchy, tired and slow.  The lessons and fun of previous generations is falling by the wayside because of the rush of our younger days.

There are some constants about Seniors - they don't need change, they often don't really want to change anymore and sometimes they hate change because they have already been around that block for years.  They don't like being talked to like they are dumb.  They don't like feeling like they are burdens and worry much that they are burdens.  They have all - by the nature of survival - learned much that can be shared if people will only listen.  They do have a lot of free time, don't have to move at a fast pace and can take longer than they need if they want to connect with the "younger" generations.  However, they can also teach us much about slowing down so that we don't end up with the same regrets that they now have.

There are plenty of senior audiences out there that are not older in age but are simply aged, experienced, have been around the block in certain areas.  Some of them simply surivived those areas and are set in their ways and others have succeeded in those areas and have great information.  Some will want to talk much because they don't get to talk much to anyone anymore and others are simply tired of talking and are ready to "sit a spell".  Some are behind the times technologically and others have plenty of disposable income to explore more technology than they need.  Some will let you talk right over them and let you pass up great information and others will really try to reach out to you to help you see the benefit and perspectives of their way.  Some of them still explore and others think they are just a little too old to try something new. When this audience represents the completion of maturing from one audience to the next until they are a full, mature, deep audience, they will love to learn, to participate and will have much more to add if the teacher will let others listen.  Here are some tips when teaching this audience or when they are among the other audiences that you teach:

• Don't be prideful but listen and let others listen.  Who cares if someone in the audience knows more than you do?  Enjoy the blessings of learning from those who have learned.
• Don't assume that everyone who is in this audience is wise.  Some people simply grow old in a "topic" but never master it or mature.
• Don't put a senior audience member on the spot or embarass them in front of others.  Not only will everyone in the senior audience disrespect you but no one in any audience condones the humiliation of "older people" - even in the learning environment.
• Teach the other audiences present to stop and listen.  Don't interrupt and don't worry what others think.
  
• Don't expect change to be a favorite topic with this audience.  Make sure that you "sell" the idea - not politically but with really valid, honest, heartfelt reasons.  If you can't sell this audience, you might want to ask yourself if you should be doing that "new idea".
  
• Don't dismiss this audience as against everything young just because they try to get you to avoid their mistakes.
• Don't focus on the "gumpy old audience".  There are grumpy, self centered people everywhere in every audience that should not be listened to - in the senior audience they just don't hide it anymore because they have no one to impress.  One grumpy old learner doesn't ruin the entire audience.

This audience may soon find itself retiring, laid off or seemingly obsolete amongst the newest trends but those trends were given birth by and grew up on the backs of the senior audience.  Probably the greatest thing to realize about this audience is that they know they are on the "way out"  and that their life is coming to an end.  The healthy, senior audience wants to share the summation of its failures and successes on a topic so that those "coming up" will be spared or go to even greater places.  The wise teacher will not stop teaching this audience because he thinks they are too experienced or set in their ways to make a difference in life.  Instead, the wise teacher will continue to teach solid, constant truths for their health and growth while challenging and teaching them to communicate and interact with the younger audience so that everyone can learn the "senior wisdom."